Left ventricular mass normalization in child and adolescent athletes must account for sex differences.

Bibliographic Details
Title: Left ventricular mass normalization in child and adolescent athletes must account for sex differences.
Authors: Hubert Krysztofiak, Marcel Młyńczak, Łukasz A Małek, Andrzej Folga, Wojciech Braksator
Source: PLoS ONE, Vol 15, Iss 7, p e0236632 (2020)
Publisher Information: Public Library of Science (PLoS), 2020.
Publication Year: 2020
Collection: LCC:Medicine
LCC:Science
Subject Terms: Medicine, Science
More Details: BackgroundTo assess left ventricular hypertrophy, actual left ventricular mass (LVM) normalized for body size has to be compared to the LVM normative data. However, only some published normative echocardiographic data have been produced separately for girls and boys; numerous normative data for the pediatric population are not sex-specific. Thus, this study aimed to assess whether the LVM normative data should be developed separately for girls and boys practicing sports.MethodsLeft ventricular mass was computed for 331 girls and 490 boys, 5-19 years old, based on echocardiography. The effect of sex on the relationship between LVM and body size was evaluated using a linear regression model. Seven sets of the LVM normative data were developed, using different methodologies, to test concordance between sex-specific and non-specific normative data. Every set consisted of normative data that was sex-specific and non-specific. Upon these normative data, for every study participant, seven pairs of LVM z-scores were calculated based on her/his actual LVM. Each pair consisted of z-scores computed based on sex-specific and non-specific normative data from the same set.ResultsThe regression lines fitted to the data points corresponding to LVM of boys had a higher slope than of girls, indicating that sex affects the relationship between LVM and body size. The mean differences between the paired LVM z-scores differed significantly from 0. The percentage of discordant indications, depending on the normalization method, ranged from 66.7% to 100% in girls and from 35.4% to 50% in boys. Application of the LVM normative data that were not sex-specific made relative LVM underestimated in girls and overestimated in boys.ConclusionThe LVM normative data should be developed separately for girls and boys practicing sports. Application of normative data that are not sex-specific results in an underestimation of relative LVM in girls and overestimation in boys.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 1932-6203
Relation: https://doaj.org/toc/1932-6203
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0236632
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/8054d033fe524972b15f41a832148763
Accession Number: edsdoj.8054d033fe524972b15f41a832148763
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
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More Details
ISSN:19326203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0236632
Published in:PLoS ONE
Language:English